Jupiler League legend Wesley Sonck believes Paul Onuachu could suit the Premier League, telling HLN that West Ham United may be the ideal destination.
Unfortunately for Onuachu, the doors to the London Stadium already appear to have slammed in his face.
West Ham were linked with the 6ft 7ins Nigeria international throughout most of the last year. That was, of course, until David Moyes admitted that Onuachu ‘wasn’t someone we really had in any consideration’.
A move to West Ham, then, appears to be off the cards.
That does not mean the KRC Genk talisman will not be a Premier League player at some point in 2022 though. According to The Mail, Tottenham Hotspur see Onuachu as a £20 million alternative to the overworked Harry Kane.
He’s also been linked with Southampton and Aston Villa, with the latter seemingly willing to overlook their rather underwhelming track record when it comes to signing players from Belgian football.
Will Paul Onuachu move to the Premier League this year?
“I think it’s a shame that Onuachu still plays in Belgium,” says Sonck, a former Belgium international.
“A boy like me, 1 metre 75, who can score a goal: in a manner of speaking, you will find a thousand of them in Europe. But players like Onuachu, at 2 meters, there are not even five.
“Certain teams will be able to use Onuachu.
“Such as West Ham. Let’s be honest, Onuachu wouldn’t look out of place there, right? Moreover, he is already 27. He is in the best period of his life.”
Onuachu scored an impressive 26 goals in 34 league games across 2021, earning the Jupiler League’s Player of the Year award.
But, as Sonck points out, just because you’ve got the Golden Shoe sitting on your mantelpiece, that doesn’t mean clubs will be queuing up to secure your signature.
The Jupiler League, after all, does not enjoy the same reputation as La Liga or the Bundesliga for instance.
“I don’t think a Golden Shoe really opens doors,” Sonck adds. “The best player in Spain or Germany, okay. But the one from Belgium?”
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